The 2021 FCS spring football season began with 92 teams participating and 35 teams opting out. The season was hit with its first midseason opt-out on March 21 with Illinois State and more followed.
We have updated our tracker page below:
Currently, 84 FCS teams are still playing this spring. Here are the 43 FCS teams that are not:
Last updated on April 14
Midseason Opt-Outs (8)
Teams that decided not to play any make-up games or schedule new opponents in the last two weeks due to cancellations (COVID reasoning or opponents opting out) do not count as an “opt-out.”
Illinois State (MVFC) — Was 1-3
Cal Poly (Big Sky) — Was 0-3
Chattanooga (SoCon) — Was 3-2
Albany (CAA) — Was 1-3
Wofford (SoCon) — Was 1-4
Western Illinois (MVFC) — Was 1-5
New Hampshire (CAA) — Was 0-1
Youngstown State (MVFC) — Was 1-6
Preseason Opt-Outs (35)
Big Sky
Sacramento State — Not playing any games this academic year
Montana — Hopes to play a modified non-conference schedule this spring
Montana State — Hopes to play a modified non-conference schedule this spring
Portland State — Hopes to play a modified non-conference schedule this spring
Northern Colorado — Hopes to play a modified non-conference schedule this spring
Big South
Campbell — Played 4 games in the fall
Hampton — Not playing any games this academic year
North Alabama — Played 4 games in the fall
CAA
Towson — Not playing any games this academic year
Ivy League
*The Ivy League decided it will not play a spring season
8 Teams — Brown, Columbia, Cornell, Dartmouth, Harvard, Penn, Princeton, Yale
MEAC
The MEAC has suspended its spring season after six of the nine teams have opted out. The MEAC’s decision to cancel the spring football season does not prevent individual member institutions from participating in football competition. At this point, Delaware State, Howard and South Carolina State have expressed an intent to play this spring.
Bethune-Cookman — Not playing any games this academic year
Florida A&M — Not playing any games this academic year
North Carolina Central — Not playing any games this academic year
Norfolk State — Not playing any games this academic year
Morgan State — Not playing any games this academic year
North Carolina A&T — Not playing any games this academic year
MVFC
Indiana State — Not playing any games this academic year
NEC
Saint Francis — Not playing any games this academic year
CCSU — Not playing any games this academic year
OVC
Eastern Kentucky — Played 9 games in the fall
Patriot
Georgetown — Not playing any games this academic year
Pioneer
Dayton — Not playing any games this academic year
Marist — Not playing any games this academic year
Southland
Abilene Christian — Played 6 games in the fall
Central Arkansas — Played 9 games in the fall
Houston Baptist — Played 4 games in the fall
Stephen F. Austin — Played 10 games in the fall
SWAC
Alcorn State — Not playing any games this academic year
